Lock with pivoted tumblers



April 13, 1954 c. J. N. HAGSTROM 2,674,870 LOCK WITH PIVOTED TUMBLERSFiled De G. 22, 1948 INVENTOR awymmm ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 13, 1954UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCK WITH PIVOTED TUMBLERS Carl J. Hagstrom,Glen Head, N. Y. Application December 22, 1948, Serial No. 66,689

15 Claims (Cl. 70-353) The invention relates to a lock adapted to beoperated by a key. The lock is designed primarily to operate a switch,the switch being thrown by either right or left hand turning of the key.The lock, however, may be used as any lock to throw a bolt and the like;that is, the lock has general applicability. The lock is constructedparticularly to operate upon both right and left hand rotation of thekey and with lack of symmetry in the key as will appear more fullyhereinafter. The lock may be constructed to operate in one directiononly, if desired.

Some switches are thrown to closed and opened position by a A;revolution or pivotal movement of its operating member whereas otherswitches require a greater pivotal movement such as a 4 turn. Thisnecessitates at least an equivalent extent of rotation by the key andthe operating hub of the lock. The lock is constructed so thatthetumblers or leaves of the lock itself 3 are suitable for use of thelock with either type of switch, thereby reducing the number of partswhich must be manufactured and carried in stock to adapt the lock foruse with either type of switch.

It is an object of the invention to construct a lock for right and lefthand rotation of the key in order to operate the same with a key whichmay or may not have symmetry on the opposite faces thereof.

Another object of the invention is to construct a new and novel lockutilizing pivoted tumblers or leaves.

A further object of the invention is to construct a lock in which thetumbler or leaves are suitable for a lock to be operated through turn or4 turn of the key and operating hub of the look.

A still further object is to construct a new and novel lock using apivotally movable hub and locking post and a circular gate in thetumblers.

Another object is to construct a simplified lock in which the pivot forthe tumblers serves also as a stop and may also serve as the anchor forya centering spring for the hub.

Another object is to construct a non-pick lock.

Other objects of the invention will be more apparent from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawingillustrating a preferred embodiment thereof in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the lock with the cover plate removed;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the lock with the tumblers or leaves removedshowing the hub of the lock.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the A; turn lock with the cover removed andthe key turned therein to operated position to the left and with two ofthe' tumblers removed on the right to show the third tumbler upon thisside of the lock.

Figure 4 is a section through the lock taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a partial plan view of the lock with the hub turned tonon-pick position.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the middle or second leaf or tumbler;

Figure '7 is an end view of a non-symmetrical key for operating thelock; and

Figure 8 is a plan view of the key of Figure 7.

The lock includes a frame or casing In which may take any form, thatparticularly illustrated being circular. A cover or cover plate H mayclose the open face of the casing or frame which is attached thereto inany fashion such as by screws 12. The casing has a hole I 3 through theback face thereof for connection of the lock with a switch or bolt (notshown) A switch to be openated by the lock may be secured to the casingsuch as by screws [4. The cover or cover plate also has a hole I5therethrough as well as a key slot l6.

Within the casing or frameis an operating hub IS in the form of asemicircumferential plate mounted for rotation or pivotal movement whichis adapted to be operatively connected with a switch or looking bolt inany desirable manner. As shown in the drawings the hub carries a cam orextension 20 which extends through the hole [3 in the casing and thiscam may have screw holes 2| to receive screws for operatively connectingthe extension or cam with the operating element of a switch foroperating the latter or with a lever for operating a bolt. The hub isrotatably or pivotally mounted in the hole in the casing which hole andcam constitute a bearing means for the hub. Although the hole and rotatable hub are mounted centrally of the circular casing this is not anessential detail of construction but its mounting depends on the size ofthe casing.

The hub also may carry a sleeve 22 extending outwardly or away from thehub which sleeve is received in the hole l5 in the casing cover II and,therefore, the end of the sleeve and the hole in the cover constitute asecond bearing means for rotatablyor pivotally mounting the hub in thecasing. The bearing means, also retains the hub in axial position withinthe casing. The sleeve has a central hole 25 to receive a key K.

- Means are provided for rotating the hubby thekey, which means in theconstruction illustrated, includes the side wall or walls of a slot 23in the sleeve as well as the side walls of a slot 24 in the hub. It isclear that the side walls formed by either slot constitute key engagedmeans or key receiving means which is sufficient to rotate the hub bythe key.

Any suitable means may be utilized to limit the extent of pivotalmovement of the hub. The stop means shown includesa pair of stop pins2'! carried by the casing. Each stop pin is engaged by a stop shouldercarried by the hub. For a turn lock the stop shoulder 28 is located atthe dotdash line shown in Figure 2 or in full line in Figure 3 which,therefore, is a turn lock. For a A turn switch or lock, a circular slotor recess is provided in the hub on each side thereof and the end of theslot forms a stop shoulder 29. This hub, therefore, may be used foreither a turn or a turn look or any desired extent of operating movementmerely by providing slots of the proper length for the degree or amountof pivotal movement needed or desired.

The hub carries a locking post 32 so that it turns with the hub andmoves in an arcuate or circumferential path as will be described morefully hereinafter. The hub also may have centering means of any suitablekind that particularly illustrated including a peaked extension 33carried by the hub which engages a spring 34' each end of which isanchored or secured to a stop pin 21. The spring will have a peak at thecenter thereof to restore and hold the hub at central position, or in aposition with the key slot in the cover and in the hub and sleeve inalignment. In the construction particularly illustrated with the slot 23in the hubsleeve and the slotjli in the hub for the key being a closefit with the key. the latter restores the hub to central position whenthe key is turned to central or key removal position as determined bythe key slot it in the casing cover I l and the spring 34 merely retainsthe same in this central position.

Each stop pin 21 also serves as a pivot for a setof tumblers or leavesfor the lock. There may be one tumbler only in each set; however, thelock is more difiicult to open by a person without a key, 'as the numberof tumblers increases. Three tumblers 31, 38, and 39 are shown in eachset. Each tumbler carries a the pivot or stop pin. Suitable spring means41 propels each tumbler radially inwardly towards the sleeve or pivotfor the hub, the spring means shown being a spring secured to each leafsuch as in a. slot therein and bending around into contact with theinner casing wall. Each spring, therefore, propels its respectivetumbler or leaf toward the pivotal axis of the hub or particularlytowards the sleeve 22 of the hub. Each tumbler has an edge 41 whichserves as a cam face; that is, the face of the key engages the end faceof each tumbler and upon continued rotation thereof each tumbler ispropelled or pivoted outwardly towards the casing wall. Each tumbler ofeach set of tumblers also has an arcuate land 42 of a different levelfrom that of the other tumblers in the set which engages its respectivecorresponding or cooperating level or land 43 on the key K and in thismanner determines the position of each leaf or tumbler with respect tothe key. The lands 42 need not extend the full length of the movement ofthe key since the engagement of the locking post 32 in the gate slotretains .the respective tumbler in position after the postl as onceentered the gate. It is clear that hole 49 for receiving the lockfunctions perfectly with one set of tumblers only upon one side of thekey engaged means in which case the lock is operable in one direction ofrotation only of the key and hub; however, for a lock suitable to beopened or unlocked by rotation of the key in either direction, two setsof tumblers are required as shown. The lands of like positioned tumblersof each set are of the same level or height.

With a proper key, each tumbler or leaf is propelled radially outwardlyand held in a radial position as determined by the cooperating landsupon each respective tumbler and key so that the gate or gate slot M ofeach tumbler is in alignment with that of each of the other tumblers andalso so that all of the gate slots of one tumbler set are in alignmentwith the path of circular movement of the locking post 32 as shown inFigure 3. Continued rotation of the hub, therefore, is permitted becausethe locking post enters the aligned gates or gate slots in the tumblers,whereby the hub may be rotated a or A; turn depending upon theconstruction of the lock and the extent of movement needed to operate aswitch or bolt. If the gate in each tumbler is not in alignment withthat of the other tumblers and in alignment with the circular path ofmovement of the locking post 32, the latter engages the edge face of anysuch tumbler or tumblers not in such alignment and the hub [9 cannot beturned and consequently the lock remains locked or the switch remainsunoperated. Each gate or gate slot is circular upon an arc to correspondwith the path of movement of the locking post when the gate is inalignment with the post. Also each gate slot preferably is long enoughso that it can be used with either a turn, Va turn or other degree ofmovement or turn desired to operate the switch or bolt. One set oftumblers is suitable therefore for the different types of switches. Forthe greater turn, the locking post rides or moves a greater distanceinto the gate slot.

If the key to be used were similar on each face thereof, then anidentical set of pivoted tumblers or leaves are mounted upon the pivotor stop pin 2'! on the left hand side of the casing. However, the key Kshown has a recess shown as a slot, undercut or groove 45 therein whichalters this operating face of the key and hence the tumblers of thelefthand set, although similar, are not identical with the right hand setbecause the time of operation is different by virtue of the fact thatthe key is not symmetrical on each face thereof. With the right hand setof tumblers operating from a flat face on the key, each tumbler may beoperated simultaneously. With the left hand set of tumblers operatingfrom a face having a groove 45 in the key, some of the tum-blers may andparticularly the center one 38 with the key shown pivots radiallyoutwardly later than the other tumblers because the key face whichoperates against the end edge or cam of the tumbler is at the bottom ofthe transverse groove 45 in the key. Forthisreason the lower edge faceof the tumbler 38 is shorter or farther away from the locking post incentral position than other tumblers or leaves so that all tumblers mayhave time to be moved by the key to a position with their gates inalignment with each other and in alignment with the path of arcuatemovement of the locking post irrespective of the delayed operation ofany one or more of the tumblers. In other respects the tumblers are thesame and similar parts are similarly numbered. Each tumbler may have astop shoulder 46 which rides against the sleeve 22 carried by the huband limits the radial inward movement thereof.

Each tumbler or leaf may have a non-pick finger or extension 49 upon theend thereof. Supposing that someone attempts to pick the lock and makean unauthorized entry. In the first step in picking a lock, the hub andhence the locking post 32 is rotated until stopped by engaging the endof the tumblers, after which each tumbler is moved outwardly until thegate 44 thereof is in alignment with the post. As will be observed inFigure 5, when the hub is rotated without a key or with an improper key,the locking post 32 moves to a position in back of the non-pickextension or finger 49 so that if the tumbler is now pressed outwardlyin an attempt to bring the gate 44 in alignment with the locking post,this cannot be done because the extension is engaged by the lockingpost. Each tumbler preferably carries such a non-pick extension orfinger.

It will be noted that the pivot of pivot pins 21 serve three purposesnamely as a stop to limit the pivotal movement of the hub, as a pivotpin for its set of tumblers 31, 38 and 39 and as a mounting for the hubcentering means or spring 34. This materially simplifies theconstruction of the look.

This invention is presented to fill a need for improvements in a lockwith pivoted tumblers.

It is understood that various modifications in structure, as well aschanges in mode of operation, assembly, and manner of use, may and oftendo occur to those skilled in the-art, especially after benefitting fromthe teachings of an invention. Hence, it will be understood that thisdisclosure is illustrative of preferred means of embodying the inventionin useful form by explaining the construction, operation and advantagesthereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A look adapted to be operated by a key comprising a casing, a hub,means mounting the hub for pivotal movement in the casing, key engagedmeans carried by the hub adapted to be engaged by the key to turn thehub, a locking post carried by the hub and movable in an arcuate paththerewith, at least one tumbler means carried by the casing, eachtumbler means including at least one tumbler on one side of the keyengaged means and having an end adjacent the key engaged means, pivotmeans for the tumbler means, the end of each tumbler adjacent the keyengaged means providing a cam face, a land on each tumbler facingradially towards the hub pivot means, each tumbler having an arcuategate which has a width and length to pass the locking post when thetumbler is in key operated position, and spring means urging eachtumbler radially inwardly towards the hub pivot means.

2. A lock as in claim 1 including at least one tumbler on the other sideof the key engaged means.

3. A lock as in claim 1 including stop means carried by the casing andengaging the hub upon predetermined rotation thereof thereby limitingthe pivotal movement of the hub.

4. A look as in claim 1 in which the hub includes a plate having a keyslot the side walls of which form the key engaged means.

5. A lock as in claim 1 including a sleeve secured to the hub having akey slot in the sleeve the walls of which form a part of the key engagedmeans carried by the hub, a. cover plate for the casing, and bearingmeans carried by the sleeve and cover plate to rotatably support the hubwithin the casing.

6. A look as in claim 5 the hub including a plate having a slot in theplate the walls of which form key engaged means with the walls of theslot in the sleeve.

'7. A look as in claim 1 including a sleeve secured to the hub, a stopshoulder on each tumbler and engaging the sleeve to limit the inwardmovement of the tumbler.

8. A look as in claim 1 including means retaining the hub in centralposition.

9. A look as in claim 1 in which the hub carries at least one stopshoulder, and the pivot means for the tumbler means is located withrespect to the stop shoulder to limit the pivotal movement of the hub.

10. A look as in claim 1 in which the hub carries at least one stopshoulder, the pivot means for the tumbler means being located withrespect to the stop shoulder to limit the movement of the hub, a pointedextension carried by the hub, and spring means anchored to the pivotmeans for the tumbler means engaging the pointed extension for retainingthe hub in central position.

11. A look as in claim 1 including a non-pick finger upon the end of atleast one tumbler forming an obstruction between the locking post andgfcuate gate when the post engages the tum- 12. A look as in claim 1 inwhich the hub carries a stop shoulder adapted to engage the pivot means.

13. A lock as in claim 1 including hub centering means including a partcarried by the hub and a part mounted upon the pivot means.

14. A lock as in claim 1 including a stop shoulder carried by the huband adapted to engage the pivot means and a centering means for the hubincluding a part carried by the hub and a part mounted upon the pivotmeans.

15. A look adapted to be operated by a key having a recess on one facethereof to receive at least one tumbler, comprising a casing, a hub,means mounting the hub for pivotal movement in the casing, key engagedmeans carried by the hub adapted to be engaged by the key to turn thehub, a locking post carried by the hub and movable in an arcuate paththerewith, a pair of tumbler means carried by the casing and one beinglocated upon each side of the key engaged means, each tumbler meansincluding at least one tumbler andphaving an end adjacent the keyengaged means, pivot means for each tumbler means, each tumbler having acam face on the end thereof adjacent the key engaged means, a land oneach tumbler facing radially towards the hub pivot means, each tumblerhaving an arcuate gate which has a width and length to pass the lockingpost thereinto when in key operated position, the arcuate gate for atumbler which engages in a recess in the key having its open end spaceda greater distance with respect to the edge of the land to permit agreater pivotal movement of the hub before the locking post enters thegate, and spring means urging each tumbler radially inwardly towards thehub pivot means.

No references cited.

